The title of Sangita Kalanidhi is awarded yearly to an expert Carnatic musician. It is among the highest honors a Carnatic musician can receive. However, like the Nobel Prize, there are many who deserved it and never got it, though the reverse may not be true. It is also not the only award that musicians can receive - honors like Padmabhushan, Nada Brahmam (Narada Gana Sabha), Isai Peroli (Kartik Fine Arts), Sangita Kala Shikhamani (Indian Fine Arts), Sangita Kala Nipuna (Mylapore Fine Arts), Sangita Kala Sarathy (Parthasarathy Swami Sabha), Isai Perarignar (Tamil Isai Sangam), Sangita Kala Rathna (RR Sabha), Sangeetha Jothi (Kapali Fine Arts)

Before 1942, there was no Sangitha Kalanidhi - only president of the annual conference at the Music Academy in Madras (those are listed below). There were 3 presidents the first year, and T.S. Sabesa Iyer became president again in 1934. In 1930, there were two presidents. Technically, Mazhavarayanendal Subbarama Bhagavatar received the award for the first time in 1942 but the Academy decided all the previous presidents would also be considered awardees from then on (3 of the previous presidents were already deceased). The award is given by election, though earlier it was an electoral college.

Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer asked the Academy to give it to his Guru, Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer, before he did. Alathur Subbu Iyer made the Academy promise his partner Seenu Iyer would receive the award the next year. As for instruments, many violinists but only a few mridangam artists, a few nadaswaram artists, a few vainikas, and a few flautists have received the award, and no ghatam, morsing, or kanjira artists have. ML Vasantakumari is the youngest woman to get the award at 49.

We will add each year's recipient as time goes by! Send us your comments.